FINISHED MORE CHAPTERS THAN I EXPECTED! I SWEAR I'M NOT DOING THIS ON PURPOSE I JUST HAVE MORE TIME THAN I EXPECTED TO HAVE :) THIS IS VERY RARE FOR ME.copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡR84sOxjocV
161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUHTfbawLf
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161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRWvroVohU
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While semantics and arrangements were being made for the four chosen, Arya spent her time between her friends and Malich. It was no secret they were lovers now that Malich had so boldly exited her chambers a disheveled mess, not that she was ever trying to hide anything.copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡGg46FFKkch
Some whispered about her, others were more blatant with what they thought of her, and many accused her of sleeping her way to a position within the alumni. In response she’d simply invite them to a duel if they felt bold enough. They didn’t and she didn’t care either way.copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡktpck4KKNk
They’d managed to make such uproar, however, that Mekhi and the preceptors had a hard time calming the disciples who weren’t chosen. It’s true, Malich had basically guaranteed her a position if she was to concede, but she’d also earned it. If they were to learn she was the phantom, which they wouldn’t because Malich wouldn’t allow it, they’d understand whyshe’d been chosen.copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡmd4eGyBLFm
“I still can’t believe you and the Majii,” Lumi smiled in awe.copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡvars8sjmmU
“Neither can I, if that makes you feel any better,” Arya smiled back.copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMR10JSCvA
“Here’s your medallion.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZnam9xa21
Arya took the medallion from Lumi’s hand and placed it around her neck. She noticed Lumi eyeing her suspiciously. “What?”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1D2z3JTHpn
Curious she asked, “Do you know what sigil dons your medallion?”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhAVM7ryoq
Arya looked down at the crest she didn’t recognize and shrugged, “Should I?”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4ejq15JQD
“It’s the sigil for the Litri dynasty…the Royal House of Litri.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡVu0IOcrWXL
“Litri?”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcoz3MsaBw
The name didn’t ring a bell. She’d never heard of the house of Litri. It wasn’t in any of the books she’s read, historic or otherwise. “I don’t recall the house of Litri.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡArX2qDGbpD
“You wouldn’t. It was destroyed either before or around the time you were born and everything in it was wiped from the planes. Occasionally grifters go digging there and come across long lost artifacts. They barter them to those who’d pay a pretty penny for the valuable relics,” Lumi explained. “My father used to work for the house of Litri. He was hand of the King and he paid the price for it. No one dare speaks the Litri name now, especially in the presence of royalty for fear of losing their head.” copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOY35JW7RT
“If Litri was a dynasty, what happened to its populace?”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡoe98bpp9fh
“Those who weren’t hunted down and killed know better than to show their faces in these parts. My guess is they’re in hiding.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQe0Ardt9c
Jax came sauntering over to them and Lumi perked up. That’s new. She ogled Jax like a kid with a shiny new toy. Arya recognized that feeling and wondered if she looked the same whenever she was near Malich. copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6GfaP1TG3
“Arya,” a deep voice she recognized called to her. Her head whipped in his direction and her slips spread wide into a smile. Malich. She hadn’t expected him.copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡlooRYmLY2i
“Best not keep the Majii waiting,” Lumi elbowed her.copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsU0hJEVsy
“Shut it,” Arya blushed. copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2HOQAKomr
Malich nodded to Lumi, Rayu and Dax, who returned his gesture. Arya waved goodbye to her friends and headed to her chambers with the Majii trailing behind. She adds a little twist in her hips knowing he’s watching her every move. When they’re finally alone in her room, she crushes her lips to his, only to have him pull away after a moment, too soon to satisfy her need to drink from his lips.copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyQdtJTAU6
“You’d betterbe dying,” Arya deadpanned.copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxbw8Cv0YK
Malich smiled, but his smile never reached his eyes. “The soldiers who came here to attack us, they belong to my family,” Malich confided. copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kx9fCsQmV
That got her attention. Arya backed away searching his eyes for answers and letting his words sink in. Jarrah…as in the house of Jarrah…how she never made the connection baffled her.copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NwJpI1nlU
“You’re a gods damned prince?” she gasped.copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡaC6P69V2NK
“Was,” he shrugged, “I was denounced as a traitor and stripped of all lands and titles.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNcrKrVFGl
Unable to speak, she eyed him incredulously. “Why would your family want to attack you? What did you do?”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3k8fEUPA5
“Nothing, except win my fathers favor and a target on my back,” Malich sulked. “My oldest brother Kahlem, he framed me for the slaughter of a township he himself butchered. He bought lies with coin and cast my fathers favor elsewhere. I was banished along with Mekhi who was my trainer at the time. I was fifteen cycles. We turned to thieving and we were arrested for it, enslaved and then we escaped. I became a soldier of fortune with Mekhi at my side. That’s how the Red Legion was born.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxNn9KjJDi
This was how the most powerful man in the Redlands came to be. Intrigued, she couldn’t help but ask, “Why are you telling me this?”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDsXAeCOZk
Malich took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I’m telling you because I must broker a peace with them so no more blood will be spilled.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzXMx81AIM
“You’re not doing this because of me, are you?”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaibGoj39v
“It’s no secret I’d paint the world red for you, but this is business…not pleasure.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡE71KxEKZY4
“Again, why are you telling me this? I know you.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUtZYXps81
His lips spread into a grin. “I never could get one past you, could I?”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsEGjkDmfA
“No,” she cocked her head to the side, folding her arms, “And you’re stalling.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXrIRGB4HW
“Kahlem not only agreed to peace, but he offered to clear my name, give my lands back to me, my fortunes, and my title.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡabFIQ1laxL
Something wasn’t right. Why would his brother go through the trouble of taking it all from him just to give it back. “That doesn’t make any sense. Why would he do that? What does he want in exchange?”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLdKwBg6KJ
Malich met her eyes and she felt a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. “He’d like to meet you,” he exhaled.copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTt5yTSd8X
She got the feeling there was more he wasn’t telling her. “Meaning he wants to see my face so he can kill me when it suits him,” she surmised.copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡenKpWJEg0R
“Precisely,” Malich nodded. “There isn’t a place within the planes you would be able to hide, which is why I’ll be masquerading someone else as my lover.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97OTd2H6gS
“What?”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5CsSB0ved
“As an alumni assassin, your identity is your best kept secret. If you wish to maintain your position, no one can know who you are. Keeping that identity a secret is easier to do when you do not have the world watching your every move.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrkFtPh9SB
It was clever, but she had questions…lotsof questions. “What would this imposter be doing exactly?”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡZo1vf3TcPe
Malich’s expression became grave and she knew she wouldn’t like what came out of his mouth next. “I’d have to marry her of course and provide heirs.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LWKrWZkSK
Her hazel eyes flared. “Abso-fucking-lutely not!” She glared at him. “How can you ask such a price of me Malich?”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡysJfGoNssp
“Then give up the alumni and rule at my side.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyJEYHloVI
“No.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nOzEUjGwB
“I’m no idiot. This newly extended olive branch from Kahlem is a part of a much larger game Arya, and if I’m to play to win, I mustn’t sit on the sidelines.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYmQMKjnMG
“So you came to ask for permission to betray me, is that it?”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0g5brwyo9S
Eyes downcast, he sighed, “No, I came to ask you to join me or understand.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxW6xkvLNW
“I’ll tell you what I understand,” she unsheathed a stiletto from her side and embedded its point into his chest just above his heart, “I understand that if you so much as touch another woman, you’ll be waking up beside her corpse.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtYuocswvM
“I don’t have time for your tantrums Arya.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxHeffl9R6
Scoffing, she glowered at him, getting in his face so he’d understand that under no circumstances was she joking. “And I will not stand by while you take another woman to bed.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsGxlFDj7F
Waving his hand, he brushed her stiletto away from his chest. “You don’t have a choice.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYCpXGpAnk
“Really?” She huffed. “You could always turn it down and be content as the king of the Redlands.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdxqQwjTMg
“Touché,” he countered, “but it’s never been enough for me, you know that. I’ve always had my eyes on gaining back that which was taken from me.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXrQmFlq8S
“At the cost of losingme?” copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGLgZozRmh
“I’d like to hope not, but of course that would be yourchoice, not mine.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSc9oqQGo6
Oh Godsshe hated him in this moment. This was one of her fears. Malich was ambitious to a fault and left numerous casualties in his wake as he attempted to regain the power he once lost. She’d hoped he’d be different with her. She’d hoped to matter more.copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZLO5PlDlI
“So that’s it? Agree to be what exactly…you’re mistress…your dirty little secret?”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9Zls0jCEO
“Absent a ring my darling,” he twirled a strand of her hair about his finger and smiled, “you arealreadyboth of those things.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡtR74SxWlPU
Arya snapped and slapped him so hard across the face she left a red handprint on his cheek. “How dare you?” She seethed.copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYUFEjk1OK
Unfazed he asked, “Do you agree to it or not? And need I remind you of your pledge to me?”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjBmO2TYhH
“No, you needn’t remind me, arsehole.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NE89OqZMk
“I’ll have your answer now then.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eL9uuOK6M
“You said it yourself, I don’t have a choice,” Arya feigned a smile. She either had to give up her dreams of becoming alumni or tolerate another woman in his life. She’d have to submit.copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6El1QaKrx
“All I’ve ever wanted was to be alumni since I was young. It’s who I am Malich.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OqfOk2pP4
“Is that your choice then?”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgvpqIWqw1
Choice? What choice?One would never choose to rip out her own heart. This was hisdoing. The illusion of choice couldn’t hide that. “It’s always been my choice.”copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYEPgXBG78
“Then I guess there’s nothing left to say to each other,” he replied, disappointed.copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡDx2JMH11ve
Malich leaned closer, their eyes locked in an intense gaze, and he crushed his mouth to hers. As much as she hated him in this moment, she hated herself more. He’d just pierced her heart and yet she still found herself drawn to him…longingfor him. copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡEk50ujAGPG
He knocked at the door of her desires and she let him in. Conceding to his touch, she spent the night with him. When she awoke the next morning, he was gone.copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡef2tS30YWB
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